Wire tie device



Nov. 11, 1969 v C. D. TRUMBO 3,477,363

` WIRE TIE DEVICE Filed March 14,1968 5 sheets-sheet 1 fj'. BY

Nov. 1l, 1969 c. D. TRUMBO WIRE TIE DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filgd March 14, 1968 Nov. 11.,.'1969 c, D. TRUMB v3,477,363

WIRE TIE DEVICE Filed March 14, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I .fd/4

's l 'jfl-, wf* l INVENTOR .512% l' ffm MM fea/M50 United States Patent O U.S. Cl. 100--34 15 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus `connected to one of a pair of movable platens in a baling press to guide the preformed ends of a `wire into a knot forming position and adapted to release the tied wire when the platens move apart.

This invention relates to a wire tie apparatus and is particularly directed to improvements in securing bales of cotton or other products.

Wire is generally considered to be a most economical and sure means for securing bales and this is done by wrapping lengths of the wire around the bale and then securing the ends of the wire together. It has 4been found that the wire ends are best held together by actually tying them in a knot, but because of the rather heavy gage wire required this process is diicult and time consuming.

This device, when used in conjunction with a baling press, greatly eliminates the above problems by guiding preformed ends of the wire into position and then securing one end against movement during the knot-tying operation. The ends are preformed in the manner shown in the G. E. Marica U.S. Patent No. 3,168,912. In addition, the device has a release mechanism which automatically releases the tied wire from the device when the bale has been secured.

Furthermore, because of the guide feature of the device, the chance of forming an improper knot is eliminated.

-It has been found that two men using this device and working on opposite sides of the baling press need less than two minutes to tie tive lengths of wire around a bale.

ln the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic end view showing several of the devices connected tothe upper platen of a baling' press.

FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic side view showing the device connected tothe upper platen of a baling press.

FIGURE 3 is a bottom view of the device showing it separate from the looped ends of the wire.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional side view of the device showing it separate from the looped ends of the wire.

FIGURE 5 is a top view of the rdevice showing it separate from the looped ends of the wire.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional end view taken substantially on the line 6 6 as shown in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional end view taken substantially on the line 7-7 as shown in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 8 is a partial inverse plan view of the device showing the looped ends of the wire, with one end secured and the other end in its initial position in the device.

FIGURE 9 is a partial sectional Side view of the device showing the looped ends of the wire, with one end being secured while the other end is in its initial position in the device.

FIGURE 10 is a partial top view of the device showing the looped ends of the wire, with one end of the wire secure and the other end of the wire atits furthest point forward.

FIGURE 11 is a partial sectional side view of the device showing the looped ends of the wire, with one end 3,477,363 Patented Nov. 11, 1969 of the wire secured and the other end of the wire at its furthest point forward.

u FIGURE 12 is a partial inverse plan view of the device showing the looped ends of the wire in a knotted posltlon.

FIGURE 13 is a partial sectional side view of the device -showing the looped ends of the wire in a knotted pos1t1on.

FIGURE 14 is a partial inverse plan view showing a modified form of the device.

FIGURE l5 is a partial sectional side view showing a modied form of the device.

FIGURE 16 is a sectional end view of the modified form of the device taken substantially on the lines 16-16 as shown in FIGURE 14.

Referring to the drawings, the wire-tie guide assembly, generally designated 10, is channel shaped and includes a base 12 which is mounted between a pair of essentially parallel walls 13 and 14. The combination of the walls 13 and 14 and the base 12 form a channel 15 which is open on one side and at the ends 16 and 17. The open ends 16 and 17 of the channel 15 receive the ends 18 and 19, respectively, of a wire 20. These ends 18 and 19 of the wire 20 are preformed and looped in an opposite arrangement, right and left hand.

The wall 14 is provided with a notch 21 in the area of the open end 16 of the channel 15. Within this notch 21 1s a movable gate 22 which is generally rectangular in shape and in its normally closed position is parallel to the base 12 and extends into the channel 15. This movable gate 22 acts to hold the looped ends 18 and 19 of the wire 20 in relative position during the knot-tying operation. A torsion spring 23 mounted on the gate 22 allows the gate to move outwardly away from the base 12 and releases the wire length 20 after the looped ends 18 and 19 have been connected. The inner surface of the gate 22 has been recessed in such a manner to form a vertical ange 24 at one end of the gate. Connected to the inner side of the wall 14 is a stop 25 which slants upward and outwardly from the bottom of wall 14 with the outer end of the stop abutting the flange 24 of the gate 22.

Also connected to the inner side of the wall 14 is a channel guide 26, partially enclosing the channel 15. The inner surface of the channel guide 26 at 26a is in alignment with the closed gate 22 and extends from the open end 16 toward the other open end 17 of the channel in a fashion parallel with the base 12 until 27 where it extends on an incline outward from the base 12 to 28 which is flush with the top of wall 14. The guide 26 then slants inward to 29. The channel guide 26 Orients the looped end 19 of the wire 20 in a proper position for the knot-tying operation.

Opposite the open end 17 in channel 15 is a locking means 30. The locking means 30 includes a flange 31 which extends inwardly from the inner side of wall 14 to form a narrow passage 32 between the inner surface 33 of flange 31 and the inner side of wall 13. Mounted within a rectangular slot 34 in the tlange 31 is a dog 35 which extends into the passage 32 and is activated by a spring 35a.

A triangular bridge 36 is mounted on the inner surface of base 12 and essentially opposite the channel guide 26 where it is flush with the top of wall 14. This bridge 36 extends across the channel 15 and tends to position the wire 20 against the dog 35 and also helps orient the looped end 19 of the wire.

The wall 13 is provided with a notch 37 at the open end 17 of the channel 15. Within this notch 37 is another movable gate 38 which when it is in a normally closed position is parallel with the base 12. This movable gate 38 acts to hold the wire 20 in a fixed position during the knot-tying operation. A torsion spring 39 allows the gate to open outwardly away from the base 12 when the operation is completed to release the wire 20. A part of the gate 38 is cut away as at 40 to allow the dog 35 to move.

A portion of the inner side of the wall 13 is beveled to form a well 41 opposite the stop 25. This well 41 is open at one side with two sides 42 and 43 being outwardly tapered and a third side 44 which is parallel to the gate 22 when it is closed. This well 41 guides and Orients the looped end 18 of the wire 20 during the knot-tying operation. Another section 45 of the wall 13 is recessed opposite the gate 22 to allow the knotted looped ends to be released from the device when the `operation has been completed.

Both walls 13 and 14 are provided with openings 46 which receive threaded fasteners 47 which connect the device to the platen of a baling press 48. Slotted guides 49 are connected in a similar fashion to the other platen.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The wire piece 20 having the pre-formed looped ends 18 and 19 is installed in the guide 49 prior to placing the cotton bales in the press. The bale is then installed and the pre-formed looped end 19 is manually passed through the open end 17 of the channel 15. The channel guide 26 and the triangular bridge 36 orient the end 19 in such a manner that when it has passed completely through the channel the angle of incidence of the loop coincides with that angle between the stop 25 and the gate 22. The looped end 19 rests against the stop 25 and the vertical flange 24 on the gate 22 when the gate 22 is closed. In passing the looped end 19 through the channel 15 the wire 20 passes through the passage 32 and engages the dog 35, pushin-g it forward. The dog 35 is beveled to allow the wire to pass forward, but once the forward motion has stopped the dog presses downward on the wire against the wall 13 and prevents any backward movement of the wire 20, thus holding the looped end 19 secure against the stop 25 and gate 2. The platens are then forced together compressing the cotton bale.

Looped end 18 of the wire 20 is then manually pushed into the open end 16 of channel 15 with the sides 42, 43 and 44 of the well 41 properly guiding the looped end 18 until it engages the end of the base 12. The looped end 18 is then drawn back and in so doing the two ends 18 and 19 of the wire are interengaged to form a square knot.

After the knot-tying operation has been completed the platens of the baling press are moved apart, thus allowing the bale to expand creating a tension in the wire 20. This tension forces the wire against the gates 22 and 38 forcing them to an open position and allowing the knotted wire 20 to pass free of the wire tie guide assembly 10.

FIGURES 14 through 16 show a modified form of the device. A pressure block 100 extends from wall 14 into channel 15. The presure block 100 is recessed to form a shoulder 102. Connected to wall 13 is a gate 103 which is similar to gate 38 in the preferred embodiment of the device except that the gate 103 is longer and provided with a flange 104. The shoulder 102 of the pressure block 100 and the flange 104 of the gate 103 define a passage 105. The wire 20 passes through this passage 105 and is initially held in place by the pressure of the spring 106 connected to the gate 103. When the bale is compressed pressure is exerted on the bottom of the gate 103 to press the wire between the ange 104 and the shoulder 102 so that the wire 20 is held firmly in place. The looped end 18 of wire 20 is then inserted into the open end 16 of channel 15 to begin the knot-tying operation. The modied form of the device operates in a manner similar to the preferred embodiment.

I claim:

1. For use with a baling press having a pair of relatively movable platens, and a plurality of lengths of wire, each wire length having a pre-formed loop at each end, the loops on each Wire length being adapted to form a knot upon relative longitudinal movement between them, the improvement comprising in combination: a wire-tie guide device adapted to be secured to one of the press platens and defining a longitudinal channel open at one side and open at each end, whereby the pre-formed loops of a wire length may be thrust longitudinally into opposite ends of the channel, means in the channel for orienting the pre-formed loops into knot-forming position, means to prevent reverse movement of one of the wire ends, and means to release the wire length occasioned by separation of the press platens and tensioning of the wire length.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which the means for releasing said wire length are movable means at opposite ends of the wire-tie guide device which maintain the pre-formed loops of the wire length in the device during the knot-forming operation, said means being movable to an inoperative position.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2 in which said movable means are spring loaded and extend into said channel during the normally closed position.

4. For use with a baling press having a pair of relatively movable platens and a plurality of lengths of wire, each wire length having a preformed loop at each end, the loops on each wire length being adapted to form a knot upon relative longitudinal movement between them, the improvement comprising, in combination: a wire tie-guide device adapted to be secured to one of the press platens, the wire-tie-guide device having a base provided with walls defining a longitudinal channel open at one side and open at each end, one end of said wire length being movable longitudinally into the first open end of said channel, means in the channel for orienting said end of said wire length into a knot-forming position, means on the base preventing reverse movement of said end of said wire length, the opposite end of said wire length being movable into the second open end of said channel, means in said second open end of said channel to orient said opposite end of said wire length during the knot-forming operation, and means to release said wire length upon tensioning of the wire occasioned by separation of the press platens.

5. The combination set forth in claim 4 in which a stop terminates the forward movement of said end of said wire length being movable longitudinally into the first open end of said channel and holds in proper position and prevents forward movement of said end of said wire length during the knot-forming operation.

6. The combination set forth in claim 4 in which the means in the channel for orienting said end of said wire length being movable longitudinally into the first open end of said channel is a channel guide connected to one of Asaid walls and partially enclosing said channel.

7. The combination set forth in claim 4 in which the means to prevent reverse movement of the said end of said wire length being movable longitudinally into the first open end of said channel is a spring actuated dog beveled to allow forward motion of the wire length.

8. The combination set forth in claim 4 in which the means for releasing said wire length are movable means connected at opposite ends and to opposite walls of the wire tie-guide device to maintain the ends of said wire length in the device during the knot-forming operation, said means being movable to yan inoperative position upon tensioning of the wire occasioned by separation of the press platens.

9. The combination set forth in claim 8 in which said movable means are gates which are spring loaded and extend into said channel during the normally closed position and swing outwardly from said base during the inoperative or open position.

10. For use with a baling press having a pair of relatively movable platens and plurality of lengths of wire, each wire length having a pre-formed loop at each end, the loops on each wire length being adapted to form a knot upon relative longitudinal movement between them, the improvement comprising, in combination: a wire tie-guide device adapted to be secured to one of the press platens, the wire tie-guide device having a base provided with parallel walls delining a longitudinal channel open at one side and open at each end, one end of said wire length being movable longitudinally into the iirst open end of said channel, means in the channel for orienting said end of said wire length into a knot-forming position, a pair of ilanges connected to the opposite walls of said wire tie-guide device at said rst open end of said channel and dening a passage between them, said wire end of said wire length passing through said passage and said wire length in slidable contact with said anges, said wire end of said wire length held in relative position by said anges during the knot-forming operation, the opposite end of said wire length being movable into the second open end of said channel, means in said second open end of said channel to orient said opposite end during the knot-forming operation, and means to release said ywire length upon tensioning of the wire length occasioned by separation of the press platens.

11. The combination set forth in claim in which a stop terminates the forward movement of said end of said wire length being movable longitudinally into the rst open end of said channel and holds in proper position and prevents forward movement of said end of said wire length during the knot-forming operation.

12. The combination set forth in claim 10 in which the means in the channel for orienting said end of said wire length being movable longitudinally into the first open end of said channel is a channel guide connected to one of said walls and partially enclosing said channel.

13. The combination set forth in claim 10 in which the means to prevent reverse movement of the said end of said wire length being movable longitudinally into the first open end of said channel is a spring actuated dog beveled to allow forward motion of the wire length.

14. The combination set forth in claim 10 in which the means for releasing said wire length are movable means connected at opposite ends and to opposite walls of the wire tie-guide device to maintain the ends of said wire length in the device during the knot-forming operation, said means being movable to an inoperative position upon tensioning,y of the wire occasioned by separation of the press platens.

15. The combination set forth in claim 14 in which said movable means are gates which are spring loaded and extend intro said channel during the normally closed position and swing outwardly from said base during the inoperative or open position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 155,067 9/1874 Burr 100--3 186,538 1/1877 Burr 100-34 1,142,188 6/1915 Macomber 100--34 2,300,511 11/1942 Lamb 100e-34 3,168,912 2/1965 Marica 140-101 BILLY J. WILHITE, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. -3 

